Online chats and message boards
AOPA Aviation Technical Specialist John Collins describes the online chat room that he monitors for AOPA Online as "like being in the back room of the FBO on a rainy day." Collins monitors the "Hangar Talk" conference room on AOPA's Web site ( www.aopa.org/members/messages/).
Hangar Talk is just one of 11 conference rooms that can be accessed by members desiring to talk aviation with other members. These online forums or discussion groups allow members to share information with others quickly and easily. In addition to the conference rooms, AOPA also has available chat rooms for members to participate in ongoing instant-messaging dialogue.
"In the Hangar Talk conference room, members discuss anything and everything," says Collins. "Members post messages concerning different topics, and the responses create a string of messages relating to the topic. I have seen more than 100 responses in the string before. Members can receive excellent advice; WebBoard [the software that drives the message boards] users are usually very well educated and can answer each others' questions with skill and knowledge."
The AOPA aviation technical specialists review the messages on an occasional basis; the conference rooms are designed for member-to-member dialogue, not for AOPA staff to answer. However, by regularly visiting the rooms, the specialists can jump in with more advice or to clarify certain points.
"I like to see what's been posted, what the topics are," says Collins. "I see if there's anything that I can assist on, and the dialogues make us [the technical specialists] think. If we see topic ideas that could be of assistance to other members, we'll make note of it and research the topic to provide more services."
Other conference room topics include medical matters, mechanical concerns, flying destinations, and CFI/student concerns (see " AOPA Web Resources," p. 31). "We started with seven conferences and have added more based on members' ideas," says Collins. "The Late Blooming Aviators room came about as a result of members meeting each other in other areas of the WebBoard. As a group, they suggested a separate room for those who come to aviation later in life."
Members may visit the WebBoard anonymously. If, for example, a student has a question or concern about his or her CFI, that concern can be posted at the conference room and a collection of observations can be garnered without the student feeling awkward. "You may be uncomfortable asking your CFI a question or asking the question at your airport, but throw it out on the Internet and a lot of members will be willing to help you," says Collins. "There are a lot of veteran WebBoard users who really like to help other members. Even if a question has been asked before, they are more than willing to offer help."
Another bonus of the WebBoard is the opportunity to meet other pilots. Members "get to know" each other in the conference rooms and then plan to meet at fly-ins and schedule fly-outs together. According to Collins, several members planned to meet at AOPA's annual open house held each June after "meeting" each other in the conference rooms.
The "search" button on the black bar at the top of the WebBoard page allows you to find out if a particular topic has been discussed and how to access that discussion. You can also learn about the WebBoard, the top users and posters and their profiles, and page another user.
The chat rooms on the Web site ( www.aopa.org/members/chat/) offer members the opportunity to instant message one another. There are four chat areas — Coffee Shop, Hangar, Late Blooming Aviators, and Pilots Lounge. The most-often used chat room is the Hangar, and you can expect it to be most active between 6 and 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
AOPA Web resources
Explore Our Resources and Get the Complete Picture Before You Go
Access to the conferences and message boards can be found on AOPA Online
( www.aopa.org/members/messages/).
There are 11 conference topics on the conference board:
Cloud Busters
From instrument flight procedures and techniques to instrumentation, your fellow members can profit from your experiences — and vice versa.
Clubs and Such
Find (or found) a flying club or partnership, and meet like-minded pilots.
Hangar Talk
Even better than hanging around the pilot lounge on Saturday morning. Here you can talk about anything and everything.
Hops and $100 Hamburgers
A special section to let fellow aviators know about unique travel spots and eateries that you have found.
I Was Wondering…
Aviation questions that you have puzzled over but never figured out. Someone out there has the answer. Find out whom.
Left Seat/Right Seat
An open forum for students and instructors to share their experience and knowledge.
Mechanics Bench
Ask an A&P, seek out an AC, compare your STCs, bewail your ADs — just remember to put your tools away when you're finished.
Medical Matters
Ask AOPA's medical specialists about any medical-related questions or share your own experiences with the medical-certification process.
Share a Ride
Looking for a lift? Got an extra seat? Help for the aerial hitchhiker.
WebBoard Users Forum
Tips and tricks for using WebBoard.
Late Blooming Aviators Club
An opportunity for those learning to fly after 40 to share their concerns, successes, and setbacks.
